Solskjaer's Playing The Way That United Should


Suggestions that Sir Alex Ferguson has been the real mastermind behind the success to date of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's impressive start as Manchester United interim manager are unfounded and down right disrespectful to the Norwegian.

The 45 year old former Old Trafford legend has put one of the worlds most successful coaches (as he likes to remind us) to shame in getting his players to play for him, a basic necessity as a football manager.  Solskjaer is smiling, his players are smiling and the fans are smiling once more.

Jose Mourinho was quick to tell the world how great he is and how the players he had at his disposal were no where near good enough, while Solskjaer the total opposite has been quick to bat away any praise aimed at him for the remarkable start to his short stay and has lavished the praise onto his stars, whom he believes are more than good enough to represent the club.

Yes there are some players that need to be moved on and new faces need to arrive, but the difference in confidence in Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford to name but two has been outstanding just one month into a change of management.

Talk has turned to whether Solskjaer is the man to take the role on full time with Mauricio Pochettino, Zinedine Zidane and Diego Simeone all linked with the role.

There are many factors in giving the famous number 20 the role having got the team playing "the way that United should" a song that was sung to Jose Mourinho perhaps the most ironic of chants belted out at Old Trafford, that song is far more suited to the man currently in the hotseat.

Reports suggest David de Gea and Anthony Martial are close to agreeing new contracts, a scenario under the former manager that did not look possible especially in the case of the Frenchman.

Manchester United supporters, perhaps really for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson departed the helm in 2013 are now looking forward in anticipation to the next game, and while they always supported their club, now they feel unbeatable and there is an excitement that the real Manchester United are coming back.

The man that made that possible is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.  While many including Sky Sports fantasize about Mauricio Pochettino taking over the reigns perhaps Ed Woodward has already found his man.

Pochettino is a wonderful manager but he is building a project a Tottenham and it may prove difficult to lure the Argentinian away.  However Solskjaer upstaged the former Southampton man on his own turf this month in a game many suggested he needed to prove himself.

Why spend the summer chasing a man who seems to be using the interest in him from both Manchester United and Real Madrid to his benefit when the club have found a man that so far seems the perfect fit.

Many will point at his lack of experience but he has won more trophies than Pochettino, albeit in a lower standard league.  They both got their chance at lower level teams in the Premier League where Solskjaer failed at Cardiff while Pochettino blossomed at Southampton.

Managers can sometimes not be the right fit, Solskjaer will have learned massively from his time in Wales and you cannot compare managing Cardiff with managing Manchester United.

Bigger tests will come in the coming months as Paris St Germain, Liverpool and Manchester City come to town.   But for now Solskjaer is the front runner for the role with his team of Mike Phelan, Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna so far doing the business.

Gary Neville recently said no future Manchester United manager should be allowed to come in and change the clubs philosophy. Solskjaer gets the philosophy, he gets the club and he should get the job.


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